joeljjison (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

but it still wouldn't be jazz.. even if its cool. Things are a bit simpler..

Xeretix (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Looks like facehugger playing saxophone. A bit creepy.

xqpod111 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Hello? - Incoming clue: It's a fake. Geez. If you buy this, you'll love Sara Palin. JR

KawhackitaRag (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The movement since the 1950's to play Bach and baroque music in a non-romantic manner has given that music more clarity, both textural and emotional. When this philosophy bled over to interpreting works of the romantic tradition, however, this wonderful music went to shit. A classical musician is only robotic if they're not playing stuff they enjoy, in a way that they like. Too often they sound stiff because they've been taught to play the same overplayed shit stiffly!

KawhackitaRag (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Actually, many classical pianists of the teens and twenties would extemporize on well-known material, and sometimes even improvise their own themes in addition to the written ones! There are old 78 recordings and reproducing piano rolls that illustrate this.

KawhackitaRag (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

automatic instruments can't play jazz... they can play really good dance music and do a nice turn on classical music however. It's all up to the arranger, who is always human. Obviously, whoever "arranged" the solo for this robot took some random MIDI of the solo of the internet and roughly adapted it for the player. If this thing had dynamics, and a fine musician custom-made an arrangement of the tune for it, then it would sound much better.

KawhackitaRag (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

you just made Bix very sad

KawhackitaRag (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

yes he did. Look up "reproducing piano", "orchestrion", "fairground organ", "violano-virtuoso" and "phonoliszt-violina" on youtube and you will see some pretty amazing antique player instruments. Look up AMICA and MBSI on google or youtube, and you will see there are many people who are interested in these things today.

KawhackitaRag (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I wouldn't blame the robot for the wrong notes and rhythms, I'd blame whoever programmed the #$%^ MIDI file that it's playing. If you look at transcriptions of this, they look easy enough (eighth notes and rests, maybe a triplet or two), but they are invariably written as simply as possible so not to scare people off. A REAL transcription, writing out all the "swing" and feel and dynamic level on every single note, exact attack and rest, etc. is needed for the robot to interpret correctly.

KawhackitaRag (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

like what?